ANKARA (Aysor)–Michel Jean Legrand, the French Oscar-winning composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist, famous for conducting the music for Umbrellas of Cherbourg, said on his tour to Russia’s Krasnodar region Friday that the Turkish government has denied his entry into the country.
Legrand, whose Armenian ancestors come from a village located within the borders of modern-day Turkey, said he wished to visit his family village. However, Turkey’s government rejected his visa application.
Turkey’s government said that Legrand can’t enter Turkey now; he may be allowed to visit Turkey later, but not now, Turkish officials said.
Legrand, however, said he was denied entry because of his Armenian roots and for criticizing Turkey in the past on its denial of the Armenian Genocide.
In an interview, Legran once said: “The 1915 mass killings of Armenian population in Turkey are terrible and devastating. And Turkey’s unwillingness to recognize Genocide means that Turkey will never join the European community. Now Turkey-Armenia relations are normalizing; it is good, but it would be better if Turkey returned Armenian territories which Turkey had stolen.”
way to go Legrand!!! thank you for speaking your mind powerfully!! you will visit your family’s village, soon…. as your homeland.
Michel Jean Legrand
Who wrote in internet he is white
Legrand
I never knew your ethnicity.
Why do you write, ‘you’re white’
What does it mean to have white skin?
It all meaningless
Many criminals are also white…
You think you are white!
Armenians are never white
They are white only by their hearts.
Why you did not say
What is the color of your Brain?
That should be white
With gifted Armenian dendrites.
Your Brain
Your Innovation
Your Music
Your ‘Minded Hart in Hands’
All grew from the same tree
To give you all eternal talent
To make you composer
Like Komidas Khachaturian…
Don’t call your self white
Define your self and say
“My genes are composed
From those names above
And many others,
Slayed in genocide.
I was lucky to be born in France
To apply three words
liberté, égalité, fraternité.
Please write your real name
To make us happy and proud.
You belong to us and
for us you should sing.
You gave enough for others
Enchant us with your Araratian gifts.